USC Bovard College Commencement Speaker, Carlos Adame addresses the graduating class.
The Class of 2026 graduates of the Master of Science in Emergency Management program celebrated their achievements at the Bovard College commencement ceremony on Friday, May 15, 2026, in McCarthy Quad on the USC University Park Campus. This year, 42 graduates from a number of fields in emergency management will receive their diplomas, including professionals working in roles such as emergency operations coordinator, firefighter, paramedic, and police lieutenant, and for organizations such as the US Military, the City of Los Angeles, the County of Los Angeles, and USC, among many others.
Dean Anthony Bailey opened the ceremony by celebrating the 10th anniversary of Bovard College and congratulating the graduates for all of their hard work. “You are ready to be a positive force for change in your respective industries,” he reminded the graduates, “You are all ready to lead.”
Dean Bailey then introduced this year’s commencement speaker, Bovard College faculty member Carlos Adame, whose notable roles include serving as Senior Global HR Leader at Amazon, Chief Human Resources Officer at Providence Health, and vice president and chief human resources officer at AltaMed Health Services. In his address to the graduates, Adame emphasized the characteristics of strong leaders, noting that “the most successful leaders…are the ones who can navigate ambiguity, who can bring people along through uncertainty, and who can make a difference even when the path isn’t clear.” All of these traits are important in the context of emergency management, where professionals must navigate the ambiguity of sudden disasters, unite communities despite the uncertainty that disasters carry, and dedicate themselves to making a difference in their communities. “Work hard to make a difference—in your life and in the lives of others,” Adame encouraged graduates. Equipped with their diverse experiences and advanced degrees, the MSEM graduates are now ready more than ever to make a positive impact in their communities.
Banner Bearer, Rachel Hallstrom (left), and Flag Bearer, Moises Ojeda (right), pose with USC Bovard College Dean, Anthony Bailey (center).
MSEM Graduate, Moises Ojeda, was recommended by the program’s faculty to represent his classmates and USC Bovard College as the flag bearer for both the main USC commencement ceremony and the USC Bovard College ceremony. “Being selected as the 2026 flag bearer for USC Bovard College is an honor. To me, it represents several important parts of my personal journey, including the support I received from the Bovard College faculty and staff, the resilience it took to complete this program while serving on a six-month deployment in an active combat zone in 2025, and the sense of community I experienced throughout my time in the program with my classmates and professors.” Ojeda also expressed how meaningful the opportunity is as a lifelong USC sports fan: “It makes the experience even more meaningful knowing that I’ll have the opportunity to march through the historic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, a place I’ve been to countless times since I was a child. It’s a dream come true!”
When asked about his biggest accomplishments in the program, Ojeda shared that completing his master’s degree while serving full-time in the military, “and successfully balancing the demands of both commitments,” was his proudest achievement. “As an active-duty Army service member balancing military responsibilities with graduate school, this recognition means a great deal to my family and me, and I’m very blessed and honored to have been selected.”
Ojeda also mentioned that his capstone project was a major source of pride and one of his biggest accomplishments in the program: “I’m especially proud of my final capstone project, which focused on building more equitable and resilient emergency management strategies for vulnerable communities in Clarksville, Tennessee, where I currently live.” The capstone project is a key part of the MS in Emergency Management curriculum, which allows students to synthesize their knowledge and skills gained throughout the program. “Overall, my final capstone reinforced my passion for emergency management and desire to serve underserved communities,” Ojeda reflected.
After commencement, Ojeda is most looking forward to leveraging both his military and academic experiences to serve different communities. “I am still serving on active duty and have several years remaining in my current contract, but after my service, I plan to transition into the civilian emergency management field. For now, I’m most excited to celebrate this milestone with my family and my fellow soldiers who have supported and encouraged me along the way since I began this program.”
Many of the 2026 graduates are currently working in emergency management. However, USC’s Master of Science in Emergency Management program also provides a valuable foundation for those looking to change careers and enter the field. Through the program’s comprehensive curriculum, students will learn about key industry topics, including policies and regulations, critical decision-making, disaster planning, and operational coordination.
Designed to fit students’ schedules, the online MS in Emergency Management program is offered on both a one- and two-year track. At 24 units, the program can be completed in just 12 months for students in the one-year track. No GRE is required, and students have their choice of three enrollment dates each year.